FRSC to reckless drivers: You ‘ll spend Christmas in prison

Reckless drivers who get involved in road crashes during the Yuletide will be remanded in the prison custody till after the New Year, the Federal Road Safety Corps said on Tuesday.

The Zone 5 Commander, FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshall Kehinde Adeleye, who gave the warning in Benin, Edo State capital, added that crashed vehicles during the festive period would be impounded till January 15, 2019.

Adeleye made the disclosure during the inauguration of “ember months campaign” tagged, “Responsible drinking,” in collaboration with Guinness Nigeria Plc.

He said, “We had instructions from our headquarters in Abuja that any driver we arrest, whether keke or okada, car or bus or truck driver in this ember period will not be released until after January 15, 2019.

“In addition, we will have mobile courts in virtually all routes. If mobile courts are in session and any driver is found culpable of causing road crashes, he or she will be arrested and will remain in the prison custody till next year January.

“The idea is that we have been struggling from January to December to make our daily living. It is our responsibility to our families and I don’t think it is advisable to now spend Christmas and New Year in the prison custody.”

Adeleye said that 45 per cent of road accidents were caused by drunkenness, adding that drivers of articulated vehicles were responsible for road crashes in most cases.

Earlier in his speech, Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Benin plant, Alli Bayo, said the company had been partnering FRSC to create awareness on the need for drivers to avoid drinking while driving in the last 14 years.

Bayo who was represented by Everest Ogohnim, the Packaging Manage of Guinness Nigeria Plc, encouraged stakeholders in the transportation sector to make firm commitment to never drink and drive by signing the #JoinThePact wall. Punch